Munster Senior Football Championship

In a much needed boost for Clare football and in a
powerful effort weakened by wayward shooting Clare booked a place on
the weekend of 13/14th June in a semi final meeting in Pairc Ui Rinn
with Cork. The better side won the game but yet could have easily lost
the tie and in the words of a GAA follower " Clare won dirty and could
have lost with much kindness".

Team captain Gary Brennan led by example and
burst through on the first attack to give Clare the lead after twenty
seconds. Clare exerted pressure but on the counter Robert Browne the
left corner back for Limerick responded after three minutes. Shane
Brennan forced a great save from Limerick netminder Brian Scanlon as the
resultant 45 was kicked wide by Cathal O Connor. Ian Ryan had the next
scoring chance from a free won by Ryan and he made no mistake. On a big
weekend for the Cleary family Eoin made his first start for Clare
footballers a successful one with a punched point with seven minutes
elapsed.

Sean Collins hit the top of the post at the end
of a good Clare move involving Gordon Kelly, Martin McMahon and Collins.
After ten minutes Clare had five wides kicked as Clare had the benefit
of the stiff breeze in the first half in Cusack Park. The game had to
wait a full six minutes for the games next score and when it did it was
two scores from the Brennan brothers in the 12th and 13th minutes as the
home side opened up a (0-4) to (0-2) lead. This was richly deserved as
Clare were the dominant side in possession but only for their wasteful
shooting would have been out of sight at the end of the opening quarter.

Cathal O Connor increased the Clare lead to
three with a well kicked 45 but again the folly of wides continued as
wide number seven was provided by Eoin Cleary. A moment of magic from
Podge Collins saw him beat three and score off his left foot for the
game's best moment to date in the 22nd minute in front of the attendance
of 4520.

Limerick lifted the siege with a 40m free scored
by goalkeeper Brian Scanlon after 26 minutes as three points was the
difference. It was but a temporary reprieve for the shannonsiders as
Clare struck back with two scores from Eoin Cleary and Gary Brennan who
was in sparkling form restored a five point Clare lead.

Clare should have been coasting with a six plus
lead at the break and were six clear with Jamie Malone's first score a
minute into the new half as the heavy drizzle was appearing and the wind
was rising. Limerick rallied well for three minutes with two points
courtesy of Peter Nash and Stephen Cahill as Clare looked to be on the
back foot even at this early stage in the second half

Shane Brennan's retirement with a suspected
shoulder injury was a loss to Clare as Sean Collins was put through by
brother Podge but his effort was over the bar when a goal would have
ended the game as a serious event from a Clare viewpoint.

Once again Clare began to falter and it was in no
small part to the efforts of Limerick as Ian Ryan (free) and Peter Nash
with a sweet effort had the Clare lead cut to a goal with 23 minutes
left of action in Cusack Park. Rory Donnelly, a veteran of many years
football with Clare and recently brought back into the panel was
introduced and after a couple of errors paid back in spades the
selectors faith in him with an important point. The two Ian's, namely
Ryan and Corbett as well as Cian Sheehan showed great hope for Limerick
entering the final quarter with three in a row to narrow the deficit to
the minimum with 12 minutes remaining.

Indeed, many Clare supporters were fearing the
worst as Gary Brennan who had been dominant in the first half had showed
little in the third quarter. Rory Donnelly rallied with a second score
before Ian Ryan ensured the minimum separated the sides. From a Clare
viewpoint never conceding an equalising score was crucial and it
displayed great spirit that may help them later in the season that has
already seen safety in division three of the NFL.

The introduction of Davy O Halloran who was
centre of a media storm in February had the cameraman working with
intent and whilst he did not score he worked hard and a was a vital link
man between the backs and midfield. In the final ten minutes the
workrate of Podge Collins was essential to Clare blocking out Limerick.
However the last sub introduced, namely Cathal McInerney was the match
winner. He pointed a free in the 65th minute and Clare were two clear
once more. Both sides had chances for scores in the following five
minutes but Limerick were depending on goalkeeper Brian Scanlon with
long range free and he tagged on a third with the game entering the
final minutes. Yet, it was left to Cratloe man McInerney to secure the
win with the coolest of strokes as the game entered the 71st minute

Best for Clare were Ciaran Russell who worked
hard, Kevin Hartnett, Gordon Kelly, Dean Ryan, Gary Brennan who had a
superb first half and rallied in the final ten minutes. Cathal O Connor,
however was the Mr consistent of the team and he was aided well by
Podge Collins, Jamie Malone until black carded, Eoin Cleary plus subs
Donnelly, McInerney and O Halloran. Interestingly over the 70 minutes
Clare and Limerick had 16 different scorers which was quite a high tally
for a football game and one would have expected a higher tally in
scoring returns for each side.